Commercial Space News

Via Satellite

Rocket Factory Augsburg names Alexander Dahm CEO ahead of RFA ONE’s maiden flight

Rocket Factory Augsburg has appointed Alexander Dahm as chief executive, tasking the aerospace operations executive with guiding development of its RFA ONE launcher toward its maiden flight. The move marks another change in leadership for the German launch developer, which named a new CEO last year.

SpaceNews.com

Meridian and NanoAvionics activate LEO communications payload, target broadband spacecraft production in mid-2027

Meridian Space and Kongsberg NanoAvionics said Oct. 5 they had successfully activated Meridian’s First Customer Link communications payload in low Earth orbit. The companies aim to begin producing flat broadband spacecraft in mid-2027, following in-orbit antenna tests.

The Air Current

High activity

SpaceX shares rebound nearly 60% from August low as Morgan Stanley turns bullish; FAA eases aircraft exposure to space-debris ri

SpaceX stock has climbed to its highest close since June, recovering from its post-IPO slump as investors cite the company’s AI business and Starship progress. The rally followed a bullish Morgan Stanley call; separately, the FAA changed its safety policy to permit more aircraft in airspace with elevated risk from falling debris.

SpaceNews.com

Megaconstellation plans escalate, from thousands of satellites to a proposed million

Amazon wants more than 5,000 satellites in orbit, while Blue Origin has proposed another 5,400. Chinese companies have filed plans for vastly larger numbers, and Elon Musk has discussed a constellation of 1 million, intensifying competition for the resources needed to deploy megaconstellations.

Bloomberg

SpaceX seeks approval for 32.4-mile Florida pipeline to supply Starship fuel

SpaceX subsidiary Coastal Connect Services has asked Florida regulators to approve a 32.4-mile, 16-inch natural gas pipeline in Brevard County, near Cape Canaveral. The proposed line would supply methane for Starship operations, supporting the company’s rocket activity as fuel demand grows.

SpaceNews.com

High activity

Open Cosmos targets 96 ConnectedCosmos satellites by 2028, 192 by 2030

The UK company says more than 50 satellites are complete and plans to put 96 in orbit by late 2028, building toward a 192-satellite low Earth orbit network offering secure connectivity and real-time intelligence with global coverage by 2030. The schedule follows difficulties securing launches and meeting regulatory deployment deadlines.

CNBC

Morgan Stanley’s $300 target lifts SpaceX shares on AI and Starship potential

SpaceX shares rose after Morgan Stanley reiterated a bullish view, setting a $300 price target and framing the company as an inexpensive way to gain exposure to AI and space. The bank said an upcoming Starship flight test could be a significant catalyst for the stock.

Space.com

High activity

SpaceX launches span rideshare, military and Starlink missions as ISS crew rotations continue

Launch coverage points to flights from SpaceX, South Korea and China, including a South Korean Earth-observation payload and a Chinese Long March 12 mission. Separately, SpaceX’s Transporter-18 carried Star Catcher’s orbital power-beaming prototype, while NASA and SpaceX targeted Crew-12’s return and NASA named the Crew-14 astronauts for a spring 2027 mission.